Condition indicator for a marine component

Abstract

A condition indicator is provided to visually indicate a rotation of a nut relative to a bolt used to attach a transom bracket to a transom of a marine vessel. An indicator is configured to rotate with the nut and a pointer of the indicator can visually be identified as representing a rotation of the nut relative to the bolt. A retainer is provided to prevent the head of the bolt from rotating about its central axis.

1. An attachment condition indicator of a marine component, comprising:
 an indicator which is removably attachable to a nut, said indicator being configured to visually indicate rotation of said nut relative to a threaded fastener when said threaded fastener is inserted through a first opening in a component; and 
 a retainer which is configured to inhibit a head of said threaded fastener from rotating relative to a structure when said threaded fastener is inserted through a second opening in said structure, said first and second openings being aligned with each other, said threaded fastener and said nut being configured to cooperate with each other to provide a clamping force which urges said component against said structure. 
 
     
     
       2. The indicator of  claim 1 , comprising a structure member providing said structure, and comprising a component member providing said component, wherein:
 said structure is a transom of a marine vessel and said component is a transom bracket of an outboard motor. 
 
     
     
       3. The indicator of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said transom is disposed between said head and said component. 
 
     
     
       4. The indicator of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said component is disposed between said nut and said transom. 
 
     
     
       5. The indicator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said retainer comprises a plate member having a depression which is shaped to receive said head of said threaded fastener therein. 
 
     
     
       6. The indicator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said retainer comprises a tab which is movable into contact with said head of said threaded fastener to inhibit said head from rotating relative to said retainer. 
 
     
     
       7. The indicator of  claim 6 , wherein:
 said tab is deformable and shaped to be bent over a portion of said head. 
 
     
     
       8. The indicator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said indicator comprises a protrusion which is shaped to require a removal force greater than a predetermined minimum magnitude to cause said indicator to move away from its retention position relative to said nut. 
 
     
     
       9. The indicator of  claim 8 , wherein:
 said removal force to cause said indicator to move away from said retention position relative to said nut is along an axially extending direction; 
 said nut has an outer periphery and first and second axial ends, said first axial end facing in a first axial direction towards said head, said second axial end facing axially in a second opposite axial direction; 
 said first axial end has an inwardly positioned edge positioned radially inwardly of said outer periphery; 
 said protrusion extends radially inwardly to an inner reach radially inwardly of said outer periphery to engage said inwardly positioned edge in snap over relation to retain said indicator in said retention position relative to said nut. 
 
     
     
       10. The indicator of  claim 9 , wherein said indicator is retained in said retention position by detent engagement of said protrusion along said second axial direction against said inwardly positioned edge upon attempted movement of said indicator along said second axial direction. 
     
     
       11. The indicator of  claim 1 , comprising a structure member providing said structure, and comprising a component member providing said component, wherein:
 said component is disposed between said nut and said structure. 
 
     
     
       12. The indicator of  claim 1 , comprising a structure member providing said structure, and comprising a component member providing said component, wherein:
 said structure is disposed between said head and said component. 
 
     
     
       13. An attachment condition indicator of a marine component, comprising:
 an indicator which is removably attachable to a nut, said indicator being configured to visually indicate rotation of said nut relative to a threaded fastener when said threaded fastener is inserted through a first opening in a transom bracket; and 
 a retainer which is configured to inhibit a head of said threaded fastener from rotating relative to a transom when said threaded fastener is inserted through a second opening in said transom, said first and second openings being aligned with each other, said threaded fastener and said nut being configured to cooperate with each other to provide a clamping force which urges said transom bracket against said transom. 
 
     
     
       14. The indicator of  claim 13 , comprising a structure member providing said structure, and comprising a component member providing said component, wherein:
 said transom is disposed between said head and said transom bracket and said transom bracket is disposed between said nut and said transom. 
 
     
     
       15. The indicator of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said retainer comprises a plate member having a depression which is shaped to receive said head of said threaded fastener therein. 
 
     
     
       16. The indicator of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said retainer comprises a tab which is movable into contact with said head of said threaded fastener to inhibit said head from rotating relative to said retainer. 
 
     
     
       17. The indicator of  claim 16 , wherein:
 said tab is deformable and shaped to be bent over a portion of said head. 
 
     
     
       18. The indicator of  claim 13 , wherein:
 said indicator comprises a protrusion which is shaped to require a removal force greater than a predetermined minimum magnitude to cause said indicator to move away from its retention position relative to said nut. 
 
     
     
       19. An attachment condition indicator of a marine component, comprising:
 an indicator which is removably attachable to a nut, said indicator being configured to visually indicate rotation of said nut relative to a bolt when said bolt is inserted through a first opening in a transom bracket; and 
 a retainer which is configured to inhibit a head of said bolt from rotating relative to a transom when said bolt is inserted through a second opening in said transom, said first and second openings being aligned with each other, said bolt and said nut being configured to cooperate with each other to provide a clamping force which urges said transom bracket against said transom, said transom being disposed between said head and said transom bracket, said transom bracket being disposed between said nut and said transom. 
 
     
     
       20. The indicator of  claim 19 , wherein:
 said indicator comprises a protrusion which is shaped to require a removal force greater than a predetermined minimum magnitude to cause said indicator to move away from its retention position relative to said nut. 
 
     
     
       21. The indicator of  claim 20 , wherein:
 said retainer comprises a plate member having a depression which is shaped to receive said head of said bolt therein. 
 
     
     
       22. The indicator of  claim 20 , wherein:
 said retainer comprises a deformable tab which is movable into contact with said head of said bolt to inhibit said head from rotating relative to said retainer by being bent over a portion of said head.